Automatic signal apparatus to indicate failuite of lubricating bysteicg



L. G. BUCKNER AND S. I. SIBLEY. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL APPARATUS T0 INDICATE FAILURE OF LUBRICATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION HLED DEC- 9, I916.

v Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

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W amue I i e U ans"rains PATENT OFFICE. H

Lnvre. nucxnnn Ann SAMUEL .r. SIIBLEY; or ivmmrnrs, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATIG SIGNAL APPARATUS 'ltO INDICATE FAILURE- OF LUBRIGATIIN'G SY$TEM$.

Application filed December 9,1916. Serial No. 136,003.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Lnvr GAsToN Boon- NER and SAMUEL JAMES Sinner, citizens of the United States, and residing at Memphls, in'the county of Shelby and State of Tenn-- essee, have invented certain new and use iul improvements in Automatic Signal Apparatus to indicate Failure of Lubricating Systems, of which the following is a specification. v

Our present invention relates to lubricating systems for engines, and more particularly to signal apparatus for such systems automatically operated, should the systems fail.

The principal objects of our invention are to provide signal apparatus which may be readily installed in operative relation to existing lubricating systems or applied to new systems, so that a signal, such as a whistle, will be blown, should the systems tail; signalswhich are operable by the partial vacuum created in the intake manifold or pipe during operation of an internal combustion engine; and, signal apparatus which will operate to give warning should there be insuiiicient oil in the systems, an obstruction in the main ways of the systems, or

' should the'pump break where a force feed system is used. Other objects of our invention w ll ap pear in the following detailed description,

. taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which draW1ng:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspect ve a longitudinal way view of an internal combustion engine.

equipped with a lubricating systemembodying our invention, parts of the saidengine being broken away and shown in section ,to disclose details.

Fig; 2 is a view in central vertical sec tion through a control device of the signal apparatus, parts being shown in elevation to simplify the view.

Fig. 3 is a view in central vertical section 0 through the member 8 producing awhistling V through the signal device, and showing a pipe in operative relation thereto.

Fig. 4: is a sectional view on the line of Eig. 12. I

In the drawing, where. similar characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, A designates an internal combustion' engine including an intake manifold 13 and an oil sump- C'; l) a pump operated by engine'A and having its ingress in communi-' cation with sump (I; E a signal device of the signal apparatus, in the example shown, of the audible type; and, F a control device of the apparatus.

through the manifold B and, because of the resistance to movement, as through the carbureter,*(not shown in the drawing), a partial vacuum is created within the manitold. Also, while we have shown in the present example, a pump D for circulating the oil, it is to be understood that the invention may beapplied to gravity supply lubricating Specification of. Letters Patent. Patented K ng, 5, 191', v

.60 While we have herein shown the invensystems, without departing iromthe spirit 7 of our invention.

As shown in Fig. '1 oi the drawing, the system includes a conductor 5 for conveying the oil from the source of supply, in the present example, the oil sump C, to various parts oi the. engine requiring lubrication.

Referring now-to the signal device 1E, it may be disposed at any convenient place, such as on the dash of a motor vehicle and by way of example, comprises a main body 6, cylindrical in sha e, and provided with for air; a disk-like member 8 provided with a hollow 9 and co-axial perforations 10, when air is drawn sound; and, a bracket 11 extending from body 6, through which screws 12may be passed to secure the device it] at the position desired.

As to the control device F, it comprises a main body 13, providinga chamber 14: for oil, an ingress way 15 thereto, an e ess way 16 open at the upper portion of 0 amber 14, and a gravity by-pass 17 between the chamber 1.4: and way 16; cap 18 for body 13, said cap provided with a port 19 for air and a guideway 21 open to port 19 and chamber 14; means 22 for setting on the "signal E operable by low oil in chamber 14:; and, a valve device 23 for'controlling by-pass 17 and operable to an open position by suction in port 19.

In I assembling the control device F in I use. The means 22 may comprise a float operative relation with the lubricating sys term, it is disposed inflthe main conductor thereof and in the example shown in the drawings, the egress from pump D is in comdisposed in communication with the intake manifold, as by pipe 27. If desired, a vent 28 may be provided, carried by cap 18, the way of said vent being in communication with chamber 14 andprovides an egress for air when the system is'first brought into 2 8 in chamber 14 pivotally supported at one end portion from hearing 29 rigid with body 13, through a link 30; a valve 31 recipro cable in bearing 32 in cap 18; and, a link 33 pivotally connected with link 30 and valve 31, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The device 23 may comprise a valve 33 adapted to seat itselfin by-pass 1 7 a piston 34 reciprocable in guideway 21;

a rod 35 connecting piston 34 and valve 33 and, a spring 36 acting :upon piston 34 to normally seat valve 33. Movement of the piston 34 may be limited .in one direction as by being provided with a flange 37 adapted to engage the cap 18. The spring 36 may be accommodated in a recess 38 formed in the upper portion of the piston, said spring also engaging the cap 18 and as clearly shown in Fig.2 ofthe drawing.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :v

Assuming that the engine and lubricating system is operating, there will be oil in chamber 14 with its upper surface at or above the line a0-m in Fig. 2, which raises the float 28 to the position shown in full lines in said figure, closing ofi communica- ;tion between port 19 and the signal device Inasmuch as the suction created in the manifold" B influences piston 34, it will be drawn so as to unseat valve 33'. Thus the oilinay find egress from the chamber 14 mainly through way 16, but also through by-pass 17 and through pipe 25 to those. portions of the engine requiring lubrication.. Should the-lubricating system fail. as through lack of oil, an obstruction in the conductor5, or the breakageof pump D,

oil will fail to flow through way 16, and will become low in chamber 14, finding egress through by-pass 17, this being with the as-.

sumption that the engine A is operating. As soon as there is an insuflicient quantity of oilin chamber 14 to hold up float 28, the v latter will drop and open .communication between port 19 and signal device E. The engine A will therefore draw a portion of its air during intake strokes through the perforations 10 of the whistle 8, and the 0 era'tor will be notified as through the au ible signal, that the lubricating system is not operating. It is to be observed that when the engine A is inert, the valve 33', responsive to action of the spring 36 on piston 34 will close the by-pass 17 so that there will be no gravity flowof oil from chamber 14, when the engine A is not in use. This prevents the control device F from setting off signal device E except when the lubricating system fails during operation of the engine A. Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of our in- .vention; but

We claim 1. In a lubricatingsystem, the combination with an engine, of a signal operable by fluid in motion, a conductor for conveying oil to said engine, and a control device in said conductor operable by low oil in said device, to permit fluid-actuated by said engine to operate said signal.

2. In a lubricating system,'the combination with an internal combustion engine including an intake pipe, of a signal operable by fiuid in motion, a conductor for conveying oil to 'said engine, and a control device in said conductor operable b low oil in said device, to-cause suction rom said intake pipe to operate said signal.

3. In a lubricating system, the combination with an engine, and a pump operated thereby, of asignal operable by fluid in -motion,' a conductor in operative relation to-said pump and said engine to convey oil to the latter, and a control device in said conductor operable by low oil in said device, to permit fluid actuated by said engine to operate said signal.

4. In a lubricating system, the-combination with an internal combustion engine ineluding an intake pipe and an oil sump, of a pump with its egress in communication with said oil pump, a signal operable by fluid in motion, a conductor in operative relation to said pump to circulate oil for lubricating said engine, and a control device in said conductor operable by low oil in said device, to permit suction from said intake pipe to operate said signal.

5. In signal apparatus for lubricating systems, the combination of a signal mechanism, a body providing a chamber for oil, an ingress way thereto, an egress way open at the upper portion of said chamber, and a gravity by-pass in communication with said last mentioned way and said chamber, means for setting off said signal, mechanism, operable by low oil in said chamber and a valve ilevice for closing said by-pass u-t op; erable to an open position by suction.

6. In signal apparatus, for lubricating nism, a body providing a chamber for oil,

an ingress way thereto, an egress way open at the upper portion of said chamber, and a gravity bypass in communication with said lastmentioned way and chamber, means for setting ofl' said signal mechanism, ,operable by low oil in said chamber, a cap for said body provided with a port for air and a guideway open to said port and chamber, a valve for said by-pass, a piston in said guideway and operatively connected with said valve to open said by-pass when said piston is drawn toward said port and a spring for forcing said piston to move said valve to a position closing said by-pass.

7. In signal apparatus for lubricating systems, the combination of a signal mechanism, a body providing a chamber for oil,

an ingress way theretof, an egress way open a at the upper portion said chamber, and a gravity by-pass in communication with said last mentioned way and chamber, means for setting ofl said signal mechanism operable by low oil in said chamber, a cap for said body provided with a port for air and a guideway open to said port and chamber, a

valve forsaid by-pass, and a piston in said guideway and operatively connected with said valve to open said by-pass when said piston is drawn toward said port.

8. In signal apparatus for lubricating systems, the combination of a whistle, a body providing a chamber for oil, an ingress way thereto,lan'egress way open at the upper portion of said chamber and a gravity b-ypassin communication with said last mentioned way and chamber, a cap for said body provided with a port for air, said port in operative relation to said whistle, a float in said chamber, a valve for controlling said port and operatively connected with said float to close said port when said float is raised, and open said port when said float is lowered, and a valve device for closing said by-pass but operated to open said'by-pass by suction in said port.

9. In signal apparatus for lubricating systems, the combinationof a whistle, a body providing a chamber for oil, an ingress way thereto, an egress way open at the upper portion of said chamber and a gravity bypass in communication with last mentioned way and chamber, a cap for said body provided with a port for air, saidport in operative relation to said whistle, and provided with a guideway open to said chamber of said body, a float in said chamber of said body, a valve for controlling said port and operatively connected with said float to close said port from said whistle when saidfloat is raised, and open said port to said whistle atively connected'with said last mentioned valve to open said by-pass when said piston is drawn toward said port, and a spring for normally forcing said piston to move said second mentioned vc lve to a position closing said by-pass.

10. In combination with the cylinders of a' gas engine and the crank case-thereof, a float chamber in communication with the crank case, a pipe for connecting the float chamber and engine, a head forming a part of the pipe, a signaling device comprising a whistle in communication with the head, a float actuated valve for controlling the passage of air through said whistle and pipe, the passage of air through said whistle and. pipe being created by the suction of the piston within the cylinders of the engine.

11. In combination with the cylinders of a gas engine, a. signaling device comprising a whistle in communication with said cylin ders, float-actuated means for controlling the pas-sage of air through said whistle, said cylinders adapted to create a suction through the whistle when the float-actuated means is in one position.

12. In combination with the crank case of a gas engine, a signaling device comprising a whistle, a head for supporting the whistle, a valve seat within the head, means for connecting the head to the engine cylinders, a valve adapted to seat on said valve seat for cutting off communication between the whistle. and cylinders, and automatic means forunseating the valve, thereby allowing the-engine cylinders to draw air through the whistle for sounding the same.

13. An indicator for low liquid levels,

comprising in combination,.an indicating described.

scribed. i v

' LEVI G. BUCKNER.

SAMUEL J. SIBLEY. 

